Combination traveling case and portfolio



1932- 1.. swrrKEs COMBINATION TRAVELING CASE AND PORTFOLIO 2Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed May 15, 1928 NVENTOR 60/7 Sw/ 7 /6615 BY gATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1932. I sw gs 1,889,765

COMBINATION TRAVELING CASE AND PORTFOLIO Filed May 15, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE LEON SWITKES, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T TRAVELERSEFFICIENCY CASE CO., INC OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKCOMBINATION TRAVELING CASE AND PORTFOLIO Application filed ma 15,

My invention relates to improvements in portable cases, such as handluggage or baggage for carrying wearing apparel, toilet articles and thelike; and the same has for its object more particularly to provide awhen not in use, and in which the same may be readily exposed to viewand expanded to render the filing portion accessible for use.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the collapsible-expansible filingreceptacle thereof is carried by the cover or upper member of theenclosure therefor, and in which said receptacle, when the cover isopen, is suspended therefrom in distended or expanded condition inseparated relation to the lower portion of said enclosure.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the collapsible-expansible filingreceptacle thereof when the same is in collapsed condition occupies aportion of the interior of the enclosing casing thereof leaving theremaining portion of the interior of the casing freeior the reception ofarticles to be used while traveling.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the filing receptacle thereof when thesameis in use is suspended in expanded condition from the cover abovethe lower article receiving portion of the device, and, when the same isnot in use, is retained in collapsed condition within said cover.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the filing receptacle thereof is enclosedby a casing composed of opposing parts held in open position while thefiling receptacle is being used, and in which said filing receptaclewhen the same is in section; and

18 to permit of the chamber 24 being en- 1928. Serial No. 277,914.

use is suspended in expanded condition from the upper of said partsabove the lower of said parts, and, when said receptacle is enclosed,the same is received in collapsed condition within the confines of saidupper part to provide free space below the same for the reception ofother articles.

Other objects will in art be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination,connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective showing one form of device constructedaccording to and embodying my said invention, the same being shown inopen position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the device in closed osition;

Fig. 3 1s a side elevation showing the device in open position, partsthereof being in Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the pocket formingplates.

Referring to the drawings, my said device comprises a casing 10including a base member 12, and a cover member 14 having lateral wallportions 16, 18, respectively, hinged together at the rear edges thereofas indicated at 20. The lateral wall portions 16 and 18 provide chambers22, 24, within the members 12 and 14 which jointly form the interior ofthe casing 10. The casing 10 is provided with the usual locking means26, and the base portion 12 has secured thereto the usual handle 28,whereby the device may be carried from place to place.

The cover member 14 including the peripheral rigid frame 18 has anexpansible top portion or extension 30 attached to the frame largedifmore space is required for the purpose of receiving additional papers,documents, or other articles to be carried therein. The cover 14 isretained vertically in open position by the usual jointed connections 321 piv'otally connecting the member 12 and the cover 14.

An expansible-colla'psible filing portion or receptacle 34 is carried bythe cover 14 for the purpose of receiving or filing papers, documents,letters and the like. The filing portion 34 comprises a bottom member orpartition 36 which is secured at the inner end thereof to the interiorof the frame 18 at the base thereof. The lateral portions of thepartition 36 and the portion of the cover are connected by the plaitedportions or members 38 secured throughout their forward and rearvertical edges to the parts 36 and 30 and free at their upper and loweredges 40 and 42, the lower edge 42 being confined at a point inproximity to the connection of saidpartition 36 to the cover 14 toprovide at opposite sides fan-like collapsible-expansible elements. I

The space within the expansible-collapsible receptacle 34 is dividedinto a plurality of pockets or sub-divisions by means of the radiallydisposed separating plates 44 provided with lugs 46 at opposite sides ofthe upper portion thereof adapted to be received within the openings 48disposed in the portions 38, adjacent to the upper edges thereof.Suitable indicating tabs 50 project from the upper edges of the plates44 for the reception of suitable marks indicating the character of thecontents of the respective pockets. Intermediate the rear separatingplate 44 and the back 30 is a relatively enlarged pocket or receptacle52 in which papers, documents and the like may be inserted, and whichmay be expanded, as required, because of the expansibility of the topportion 30.

Secured to the upper side of the interior of the frame 18 is a strap 54having a snap 56 cooperating with a lug 58 upon the outside of thepartition 36 so that when the latter is not in use it may be collapsedand securedin elevated position substantially entirely within theconfines of the cover 14 out of the way leaving the interior of the baseportion 12 free to receive the articles required in traveling, such aswearing apparel, toilet articles and the like.

The device embodying my said invention is compact and convenient tocarry, and the filing portion thereof is completely enclosed when not inuse, the latter being in collapsed compact condition within its casingto provide ample room for the reception of other articles.

When the filing receptacle is being used, the cover is maintained openin vertical position, and the filing portion is suspended therefrom inseparated relation to the base of the inclosure and retained in expandedor distended condition by gravity.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of upper andlower recessed pockets.

members hinged together and formin a cas-.

ing, a member movably connected to t e rear of said upper memberintermediate said upper and lower members and providing a transversepartition therebetween, and flexible side portions connecting thelateral portions of said partition with the inner side of said uppermember, and serving to retain said partition suspended from the uppermember in position above said lower member when the casing is open, saidpartition and flexible side portions being foldable substantially intothe confines of the recess of the upper member and being adapted, whenexpanded, and the casing is closed, to project into the recess of thelower member, and transverse plates disposed between said upper memberand said partition and attached to said side portions to form aplurality of document receiving 2. A device of the character describedcomprising upper and lower chambered members movably connected, andforming a casing, a transverse floating partition disposed intermediatesaid members and movably connected to the interior of said upper memberat the rear thereof. said partition having the free edges thereof inspaced relation to the lateral walls of said chambered members, plaitedmembers connecting the lateral portion of said transverse partition withsaid upper member, and providing fan-like'expansiblecollapsible elementsserving to retain said partition suspended from said upper member inposition above said lower member when said casing is open, and apluralityof transverse plates secured to said elements intermediate saidpartition and said upper member and forming therewith a plurality offiling pockets adapted, when expanded, and the casing is closed, toproject into the lower chambered member.

3. A device of the character described com-' I prising lower and uppermembers having lateral wall portions hinged together at the rear edgesthereof and adapted to register with each other to form a casing, atransverse floating partition disposed between said members and flexiblyconnected at the rear thereof to the inner side of the lateral wallportion of said upper member at the rear thereof, sa d partition havingthe free edges thereof in spaced relation to the lateral walls-of saidupper and lower members, and plaited members connecting the lateralportions of said transverse partition with said upper member;

said plaited members having the plaits there-' of confined in closerelation to each other at the lower portions thereof, and providingfan-like expansible-collapsible elements serving to retain saidpartition suspended from said upper member in position above said lowermember when said casing is open, and transverse plates secured to saidelements and forming pockets therewith and with said iao partition, saidexpansible portion being adapted to be folded into the confines of theupper member and, when expanded and the casing is closed, to projectinto the lower member.

4. A device of the character described comprising lower and uppermembers having lateral wall portions hinged together at the rear edgesthereof and adapted to reglster with each other to form a casing, meansfor retaining said casing in open position, a transverse floatingpartition disposed between said members and flexibly connected at therear thereof to the inner side of the lateral wall portion of said uppermember at the rear thereof, said partition having the free edges thereofspaced inwardly from the lateral walls of said hinged members, andplaited members connecting the lateral portions of said transversepartition with said upper member; said plaited members having the plaitsthereof confined in close relation to each other at the lower portionsthereof, and providing fan-like expansible-collapsible elements servingto retain said partition suspended from said upper member in positionabove said lower member when said casing is open, a plurality oftransverse plates secured to said plaited members intermediate saidpartition and said upper member, and means for retaining the partition,plaited elements and plates in collapsed condition within-the confinesof said upper member, said expansible portion when released and thecasing is closed being adapted to project into the lower member.

5. A device of the character described comprising lower and uppermembers having lateral wall portions hinged together at the rear edgesthereof and adapted to register with each other to form a casing, meansfor retaining said members in open position, a transverse floatingpartition disposed between said members and flexibly connected at therear thereof to the inner side of the lateral wall portion of said uppermember at the rear thereof, said partition having the free edges thereofspaced from the lateral walls of said upper and lower members andplaited members connecting the lateral portions of said transversepartition withsaid upper member; said plaited members having the plaitsthereof confined in close relation to each other at'the lower portionsthereof, and providing fan-like expansible-collapsible elements servingto retain said partition suspended from said upper member in positionabove said lower member when said casing is open, transverse platescarried by said elements and forming pockets, and a strap carried bysaid upper member engageable with said partition for retaining the sameand said expansible-collapsible elements in collapsed condition withinthe confines of said upper member, said pocket portion, when expandedand the casing is closed, being adapted to project into the lowermember.

6. A device of the character described comprising lower and uppermembers having lateral wall portions hinged together at the rear edgesthereof and adapted to register with each other to form a casing saidupper member having an expansible portion, means for retaining saidmembers in open angular relation, a transverse floating partitiondisposed between said members and movably connected at the rear to theinner side ofvthe rear lateral wall portion of said upper memher, saidpartition having the free edges thereof spaced from the lateral wallsof'said upper and lower members, and plaited members connecting thelateral portions of said transverse partition with said upper memher;said plaited members having the plaits thereof confined in closerelation to each other at the lower portions thereof, and providing.

fan-like expansible-collapsible elements serving to retain saidpartition suspended from said upper. member in position above saidlowermember when said casing is open, a plurality of transverse platessecured to said elements intermediate said partition and the expansibleportion of said upper member, and forming therewith a plurality offiling pockets, and means for securing the parts within said casing incollapsed condition within said upper member to provide free spacewithin said lower member for the reception of articles to be carriedtherein, said pocket portion when expanded being adapted to project intothe lower member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

LEON SW ITKES.

